A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI, STUDENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS FALL 2020 THE BIG PIVOT The University reimagines instruction and student support during a fall semester unlike any other in its history. Autumn brings a welcome respite from summer’s humidity and a walk, or bike ride, across campus typically happens at a more leisurely pace. 2 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 TABLE OF FEATURES 24 DEAR 2020 Student voices on the epoch-making year 2020 30 ALUMNUS JERICHO BROWN, PULITZER POET Jericho Brown earns a Pulitzer Prize for “The Tradition” 34 TREASURER OF THE ARTS Alumna Deleen Davidson turns a forced move into a career makeover 36 FIVE DAYS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED A personal narrative by Tim Duncan, vice president of athletics and recreation 40 DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION A Q&A with UNO’s chief diversity officer Newtona “Tina” Johnson and Desirée Anderson, associate dean of student and diversity affairs DEPARTMENTS 5 CAMPUS SCENE 10 NEWS AND EVENTS 16 FACULTY FOCUS 42 ATHLETICS 46 DONOR SPOTLIGHT University of New Orleans student Josie Oliva lends her voice about the year 2020 48 ALUM NOTES and deciphering its lessons. 52 THEN AND NOW FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 3 DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS: FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE THAT YOU ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY. RECENT EVENTS HAVE continually reinforced the fragility of life. As an institution of higher learning, we take seriously VOLUME 44 s ISSUE 2 our responsibility to cultivate knowledge, to serve as agents of positive change and to lead in response to the challenges our world faces. The last six months have presented us with many opportunities to realize and even test that responsibility. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Littice Bacon-Blood The global pandemic has disrupted nearly every facet of our lives. Universities are no EDITOR exception. I am proud of our institution’s response—implementing safety protocols, increasing Adam Norris technology in classrooms to allow for more hybrid instruction, and modifying our behaviors, all DESIGN AND LAYOUT the while treating the safety of our students and employees as our highest priority. Our faculty and Eric Gernhauser staff have continued to educate and support our students in new and innovative ways. I’m thrilled CONTRIBUTING WRITERS to see how our faculty members have engaged in COVID-19-related research, offered healthcare Matthew Schaefer expertise to government leaders and helped small businesses pursue loans. Our alumni and PHOTOGRAPHY friends have stepped forward to support our current students through the UNO First Fund, which Shane Banegas Avery Gray assists students in their times of greatest need. What had the potential to splinter our university Tracie Morris Schaefer community has actually had the opposite effect—it has galvanized it. The outlook surrounding the pandemic remains uncertain. But there are lessons we have already learned that will endure. The University needs to be flexible in how we deliver instruction Send Correspondence to: to our students. That will ensure that we are accessible to the greatest number of students. We will Silver and Blue Editor University of New Orleans continue to offer a traditional campus experience, even if it’s a reimagined version of Administration Building 103 it, but we can serve more students by accommodating their varied learning needs. 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148 On a separate, but equally important topic, the killings of George Floyd, Phone: (504) 280-6832 Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others awakened us to the systemic Email: [email protected] racism that pervades our country. Once again, I was proud of our institution’s response—particularly that of our students. We have undertaken a number of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including a campus climate survey, professional development opportunities, a “Courageous Conversations” series, a new multicultural student lounge, and programming around social justice and racial equality. It’s important that all members of our community not just have a seat at the table, but a voice as well. These Silver & Blue Magazine is published by the University of New Orleans. Articles high-profile crimes have highlighted the urgent need for equality and represent the opinions of the authors and inclusivity in our communities. We need to be leaders of change, for do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone but the authors. our generation and for those that follow. This is not easy work but it is To inquire about alumni events or to join unquestionably worthwhile. the UNO Alumni Association, contact: The challenges of 2020 have spawned anxiety and exhaustion. They Office of Alumni Affairs, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148 have also given us opportunities to demonstrate strength and resolve Phone: (504) 280-2586 Fax: (504) 280-1080 as we carry out our responsibilities as the city’s only public research Email: [email protected] university. I am grateful for the teamwork, compassion and humanity © 2020 The University of New Orleans exhibited by members of our campus community, including our This public document was published at a total cost of $21,475. Forty-five thousand (45,000) copies of alumni and partners. It is because we are a determined UNO family this public document were published in this first and only printing at a cost of $21,475. There will be that we will emerge stronger, closer and more dynamic than ever. no reprints, so the total cost of all printings of this document is $21,475. This document was published UNO Proud, by the University of New Orleans, 200 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, LA.70148, to promote the purpose John Nicklow of the University under authority of 17:3351(A)(12). This material was printed in accordance with the PRESIDENT standards for printing by state agencies established @UNOPresidentJN @unopresident pursuant to R.S. 43:31. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. 4 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 THE BIG PIVOT HEADLINES AND HAPPENINGS The University reimagines instruction and student support during a fall semester unlike any other in its history. FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 5 THE BIG PIVOT SPRING COMMENCEMENT The University of New Orleans hosted a virtual com- mencement ceremony for its spring 2020 graduates that was streamed live on YouTube. President John In March 2020, with the Nicklow kicked off the virtual commencement in full number of positive COVID-19 regalia while students submitted their own gradua- cases surging across the tion photos and had use of custom UNO Class of 2020 country, the University of social media filters. Orleans—like so many other universities—ended face-to- face instruction, canceled all events, directed employees to work from home and moved all classes online for the rest of the spring semester. The University spent the summer transforming campus by reconfiguring classrooms; adding new technology to allow for distance learning; and installing acrylic barriers, hand sanitizer dispensers and signage on the importance of wearing masks and social distancing. Faculty members studied how to best design and deliver online and hybrid courses. Staff members revised in- person support services so they could virtually engage with students. The start of the fall 2020 semester unquestionably looked and felt different. New Student Convocation was online. New Student Move-in Day was stretched out over several weeks to prevent the customary crowds from massing at the residence halls. Although it took longer, students did move in. Faculty and staff returned to campus. Classes resumed, even if many had a virtual component. The University of New Orleans had discovered new and imaginative ways to persevere, just as it has throughout its more than six- decade history. 6 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 MOVING IN Move-In Day at Pontchartrain Hall was trans- formed into a staggered check-in held over several weeks to ensure it was a socially dis- tanced event in keeping with CDC guidelines. That did not mean the amount of personal belongings hauled in by students, parents and volunteers was any less! FACE-TO-FACE While some events, such as New Student Convocation, were moved online this fall, in-person help is still available on campus. The Privateer Enrollment Center – the one-stop shop for academic advis- ing, financial aid and admis- sions—is on the first floor of the Earl K. Long Library. FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 7 THE BIG PIVOT CARRYING ON Masked up and physically distanced, Privateers go about the business of teaching and learning. Floors are marked, desks are separated and parti- tions have been erected where needed to maintain safe distances. It looks a bit different, but the UNO community is rising to the challenge and carrying on. 8 SILVER & BLUE FALL 2020 FALL 2020 SILVER & BLUE 9 The Estate of Former UNO History Professor Jerah Johnson Will Fund Two Endowed Professorships THE ESTATE OF FORMER “We feel these University of New Orleans two endowed profes- history professor Jerah Johnson sorships bearing has donated $240,000 to the his name will be a UNO Foundation. The gift will fitting tribute to such be used to fund two endowed a unique man,” says professorships in history, a de- Anthony Gregorio, Johnson earned its history. He wrote pioneering partment Johnson helped shape executive director of his undergraduate articles on African American over his 44-year career at UNO. the UNO Foundation. degree at Emory culture in Congo Square and History has been an integral The names of the proposed University and his doctorate at the French influence in early part of the undergraduate and professorships are: The Jerah W. the University of North Caro- New Orleans. graduate curriculum since Johnson, Ph.D Endowed Profes- lina, Chapel Hill.